We often joke about using “No Sleep” in our conversations and hashtags. But there is a lot of powerful truth behind this little phrase, that goes beyond late nights.

The truth is that no matter the choices and career path you decide to take, success is not given to you. It is achieved. It has to be fought for – with tooth and nail, to achieve your goals. I often said that if things were this easy, everyone would be happy and be millionaires.

But it’s far from that. Many individuals are working in jobs and careers that they are unhappy about to make ends meet. Others may be doing what they absolutely love, but struggling to pay the bills. How can you balance these two?

For me personally, it was a very rocky road, filled with detours, dead ends, and traffic jams. I was in a career field that perhaps I originally loved, and was absolutely passionate about and was pretty good at it. I was one of the top guys at my company, and in the area. My personal life was deeply intertwined with work and vice versa.

That all changed a few years ago when I was hit with a personal tragedy that forever changed my life. It deeply affected me, and my work as well because of how deeply entwined work and personal life was for me. I fell into a deep depression for a very long time. Not many people, even friends, and family knew how hard I struggled to make any social interaction at all.

It would so happen that work and my personal life would once again meet, but this time for the better. A client, and friend, I was representing was looking to make a move cross country to open a new business here. At the time, I didn’t realize how much of an impact this would have on me. It’s funny how all the decisions and actions we take in life have long-lasting effects.

Through working with him in helping him with his new venture, I discovered that he was opening an art gallery. This sparked a passion I used to have, but put away on the shelf when I entered the “professional world”. Like many others, my parents were old school and believed in traditional careers where you stayed with a company for decades, retired and got a gold watch.

Because of that, I never pursued my creative endeavors. But after attending a few gallery openings it slowly began reigniting a flame I forgot about. I slowly pursued artistic projects at home, as both a therapeutic outlet, a way to communicate, and relearn how to imagine and dream once again.

Slowly, I became more involved with the arts world. I spoke to long-time professionals, emerging artists, curators, gallery owners and anyone I could that was involved in the industry. My background was essential in opening doors as I knew how to present myself, carry a conversation, exchange resources, and had contacts that many others needed. I furthered my artistic endeavors while assisting other emerging artists with the lessons I learned along the way. Something great then happened; there was no longer conflict, no race in beating the other person into a show or capturing prospective buyers and patrons for yourself. As we were all emerging artists, we were all grateful for the lessons learned, late night talks of artistic dreams and experiences and our synergy compelled us to push each other instead of competing.

This was essentially what Viable Studios was going to be. A place where creative individuals can share their thoughts, methodologies, techniques, philosophies and experiences without worry of reproach, competition or jealousy.

But all of this was not easy. It still takes hard work, motivation and late nights filled with successes and failures, and even then no outcome is guaranteed.

So back to where I started with. No Sleep stands for the long nights of blood, sweat, and tears. Overwhelming emotions and strong coffee. When we overworked ourselves for hours on end, sometimes for a poor outcome. But that’s why we all work as a team. We push each other. Catch one another. Remembering along the way that it’s a team effort. The journey is much easier when you have company.

Ironically, this is my second all nighter working on content for the studio (what you are reading right now) with a studio mate walking in this very second with coffee in hand. Team No Sleep. Literally.

– Sherwin

 

 

Viable Studios